For an unforgettable Christmas present, Patrick arranged for the two of us to go to Portugal, and we ended up going to Lisbon in late February. After an extensive course in Portuguese (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OzV3R16bKI), we hopped on a plane on a Friday and got to Lisbon about an hour later. After ditching our bags at the hostel, we set out to explore a little bit.








































After an extended siesta, we set out to find a good place to eat. On the way we found this mural that I fell in love with.






































The people who stand outside the restaurants in Lisbon put the Barcelona guys to shame in terms of aggressiveness and persistence. Luckily, we dodged them, and walking a little farther up the road paid off. We found this tiny place that advertised itself as an art gallery slash restaurant, and the cook came out of the kitchen to explain the menu and give us her recommendations. It turned out to be one of the best meals I've ever had.













































On Saturday we took a day trip to the Sintra castle, which apparently looks like this if you go on a day when it's not pouring rain.



But to try something a little different, we chose to go on a day that was more like this:















































Back in the main part of town, we played around in the plaza that was like a big optical illusion. Again, props to Patrick for picking a muy guay hostel that overlooked this:











































































Later we walked up to the top of the hill to do a little bar-hopping and I took some pictures along the way. It seems like the custom in Lisbon is to go into a bar to get a drink in a plastic cup and then go back out onto the street to imbibe. It was like a giant, packed frat party.










































It also seems like it's a Lisbon tradition to mark your territory with graffiti. I'm definitely a fan, and Lisbon had the best graffiti of any city I've been to so far.





























"No one prohibits you except you"






Sunday before our flight, we wandered around with a German girl we met at the hostel. We climbed up the hill on the other side of the city and made it up to the top just before we had to catch a cab to the airport.






















































Carne = Crime


At last, we had to say "tchau" to Portugal. I was sad to leave, but now that I know at least 5 Portuguese words I'm sure I'll be back soon.